Sunday, July 16, 2006

One Year Smober

This post is mostly unrelated to knitting, but I have to brag. A year ago today, just past midnight, as we purchased our copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Matt and I quit smoking. We have not touched a cigarette since then and we will not ever smoke again. Initially I put on some weight - we used the nicorette and unlimited cookies approach:) 6 months after we quit I started eating healthier again and now I'm officially weighing in at what I was before we quit. We feel great and healthy.

Knitting was an excellent distraction whenever cigarette cravings occurred. I would just tell myself to get through the next row and then the next and then the next. So the secret to my successful quit- don't worry about the weight gain, don't ever touch a cigarette again, and focus on how great it is to be free of the physical, mental, and financial burden of nicotine addiction. Yea! Smoke-free!

In honor of not smoking approximately 7000 cigarettes thereby saving somewhere in the neighborhood of $2000 (not to mention making my lungs (and mom) so happy!) I splurged a little on a couple gifties for myself. As I've sold a bit of my regular yarn stash on Ebay, I don't think it's unreasonable to add a few new items to the yarn stash. Here are my new treasures:

It's Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Fluorite and Pebbles and Sock Candy in Cherries Jubilee and Pebble Beach. Melissa at Blue Moon was very patient in helping me pick out some colors of both the regular Socks that Rock and the cotton Sock Candy. I've been petting and admiring them since they arrived. I love me some new yarn!

I also ordered a new knitting bag, but unfortunately it hasn't come yet. I'll post pictures once it arrives.

Here's to a smoke-free knitting-filled life:)

10 comments:

InkyW said...

Congrats on the one year mark!! Quitting smoking is one of the 2 smartest things I've ever done - and Mr. Inky too. We nearly paid for our wedding by quitting in 2003!!

Keep it off, every day can be a trial, but all that yummy, smoke-free yarn is worth it!

aija said...

Congratulations! :)

What a great way to treat yourself.

Karin said...

Congrats on the one year mark, that is awesome!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on hitting the one year non-smoke-iversary :o) I think a stash enhancement is completely justified ;o)

(I'll be smoke-free for seven years on December 3rd - but I still haven't lost the 'extra' weight)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! The STR in Pebble Beach was the yarn that I won...I just got it on Saturday. Very pretty!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Alyssa, that's something to be really proud of. And just look at all the fabulous knitted projects you have!

Kaitie Tee said...

Happy non-smoke-iversary! Not smoking is the best gift you could have given yourself. But a little more yarn is always good too!

Chicago Jen said...

Way to go woman!! Congratulations on the Smober thing. That's way cool. You are an amazing knitter and I have really enjoyed getting to know you better. I'll see you on Wednesday at GROUP!

Anonymous said...

Congrat on your one year of smoberity! Nice yarn additions!

Nana Sadie said...

Congratulations on quitting smoking. I quit 27 months ago and have NEVER looked back!
(((hugs)))